BASIC bRIdge CONCEPTS
The next steps as identified by the Knowledge Retention Symposium held at Brown this past fall include:

  • Cataloging state’s current programs
  • Data collection to establish baseline activity and established benchmarks
  • Development of statewide policy agenda
  • Creation of governing body to strategically fashion an effort focused on knowledge retention/attraction
  • Three-year action plan of activities around the four focus areas (Enroll/Engage/Employ/Entrepreneurship)

SURVEY SCOPE
Student Survey (March-May 2010)
Online enrolled student survey capturing input and insights from 4,000 area collegians enrolled at the AICU Rhode Island member institutions. First look at what students think about their location; where they go when they leave campus; what they long for; what are the greatest obstacles standing in the way of improved graduate retention?

Student Focus Groups (March-May 2010)
On-campus student input sessions at eight (8) campus sites. Group discussions on what students think about their location; where they go when they leave campus; what they long for; what are the greatest obstacles standing in the way of improved graduate retention?

Alumni Survey (April-May 2010)
Online survey of 2006 and 2007 graduates deployed with the assistance of the alumni offices at the AICU Rhode Island member institutions. The goal would be to capture at least 2,000 unique data points from the 2006 and 2007 graduating classes for overall baseline graduate retention.

Opinion Leader Survey (June 2010)
Survey of local stakeholders based on select interviews with local community leaders (academia, civic, business, government) that will clarify the level of cross-sector interest and support for an ongoing regional student engagement/retention program.

CURRENT ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES
Inventory/Cataloging
An inventory of existing, related activities that are already in place throughout Rhode Island with a special emphasis on career-related resources and young professional organizations. These will be factored into the final analysis and strategic action plan to maximize integration and minimize duplication of efforts.

BRANDING bRIdge
Messaging
Develop a messaging platform that synchronizes a set of our strengths with current college student attitudes and priorities. These attributes will become the palette of primary messages that will be integrated into all future program components. This will also include preliminary recommendations for an overall program name that should become the main public identity. How the name works as a URL will also be factored in.

FUNDING
Stakeholder Participation
A realistic, achievable three-year funding model that builds on input received during the discovery phase above. This will include recommended contribution strategies for each major stakeholder group: Academia, Government, Corporate (sponsorship and advertising), and Civic.

STATEWIDE STRATEGY Strategic Plan
A three-year strategic action plan that begins with fiscal year 2010-11 (September-December) and includes a detailed narrative and spreadsheet of recommended activities organized around the four focus areas (Enroll/Engage/Employ/ Entrepreneurship) of bRIdge. Recommendations for staffing and program oversight will also be included, based on the input received from stakeholder meetings.

Project Metrics
Establishment of a list of project metrics is needed in order to enable funders and program leadership to gauge the ongoing effectiveness of the initiative. This will include identification of benchmarks (both quantitative and qualitative) against which we can monitor progress;

A formal presentation and discussion with a designated group of community stakeholders by Todd Hoffman (Collegia) that recaps key research findings, tactical recommendations, and program timeline will occur at the first official meeting of the program’s steering committee.

TIMELINE

March 2010 Secure $80,000 for planning grant ($240,000 three-year commitment form universities)

Retain Collegia for survey work/begin identification/formation of steering committee
March - May 2010 Student and alumni surveys completed
April 2010 Student input sessions (on-campus)
June 2010 Meetings with community stakeholders

Message development and naming options

Completion of strategic action plan
July 2010 Partner grants secured

Presentation at initial steering committee meeting
August 2010 Formal launch of steering committee Formal roll-out
2010 - 2011 bRIdge activity/self-sustaining model development
2011 - 2012 bRIdge activity/self-sustaining model development
2012 - 2013 bRIdge activity/self-sustaining model development